A Novel Thin Film Transistor Using Double Amorphous Silicon Active Layer

We have fabricated a novel low off-state leakage current thin-film transistor (TFT) using a chlorine incorporated amorphous silicon [a-Si:H(:Cl)] and amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) stacked active layer, in which conduction channel is formed in a-Si:H and a-Si:H(:Cl) is photo-insensitive material. The off-state photo-leakage current of the a-Si:H(:Cl)/a-Si:H TFT is much lower than that a conventional a-Si:H TFT

Short-term effects of dietary selenium on lactating sows to improve litter performance, milk composition and tissue selenium retention in piglets

Objective This study was conducted to evaluate the short-term effects of dietary selenium supplementation on lactating sows on the physiological response, litter performance, milk composition, and tissue selenium retention in piglets when selenium was provided by different sources and at different levels in a lactation diet. Methods A total of 48 multiparous sows (Yorkshire×Landrace) with average body weight, backfat thickness, and parity were assigned to one of the four treatments with 12 sows per treatment using a 2×2 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design. Inorganic or organic Se sources were added to the diet at 0.30 ppm and 0.50 ppm Se. Treatments were as follows: i) IS30, basal diet + inorganic Se 0.30 ppm; ii) IS50, basal diet + inorganic Se 0.50 ppm; iii) OS30, basal diet + organic Se 0.30 ppm; and iv) OS50: basal diet + organic Se 0.50 ppm. Results At Day 21 of lactation, a high tendency of litter weight (p = 0.08) and litter weight gain (p = 0.09) were observed when sows were fed an organic Se source. The milk Se concentration in the organic Se treatment was higher than that in the inorganic Se treatment at Day 21 of lactation (p<0.05). The serum Se concentrations of sows and piglets at Day 21 of lactation were significantly higher when lactating sows were fed organic Se instead of inorganic Se (p<0.01). During the suckling period, the kidney and muscle Se concentrations of piglets at Day 21 of lactation were significantly higher when the sow dietary Se source was organic (p<0.05). Liver Se concentrations were affected by Se source and level (p<0.05). This also resulted in an interaction response at 21 days of lactation (p<0.05). Conclusion The supplementation of dietary organic Se in a lactating diet could improve sow feed consumption, piglet performance, milk Se level, and the Se status of sows and piglets

Ethylene Inhibitors Enhance Shoot Organogenesis of Gloxinia ( Sinningia speciosa

Shoot organogenesis and plant regeneration in Sinningia speciosa were improved using ethylene inhibitors. The leaf explants were cultured on initial shoot regeneration media (MS media with BAP at 2 mg/L + NAA at 0.1 mg/L) supplemented with different concentrations of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), cobalt chloride (CoCl2), and silver thiosulphate (STS). The addition of AVG, CoCl2, and STS significantly improved the regeneration frequency giving higher shoots per explant and longer shoot length. The highest shoot growth was found when STS at 5 mg/L was incorporated with generation medium, performing highest regeneration frequency with highest number of shoots. This treatment (STS at 5 mg/L) produced 40% more shoots per explant compared to control followed by STS at 10 mg/L with increasing 37% more shoots compared to control. In the cases of AVG and CoCl2 the highest shoot number per explant was found at 1 mg/L. Treated with AVG and CoCl2 at 1 mg/L increased shoot number by 16 and 12%, respectively, compared to control. Ethylene inhibitors could be used as a possible micropropagation and plant transformation protocol in S. speciosa for plant regenerations

Estimation of Graphite Density and mechanical Strength of VHTR during Air-Ingress Accident

An air-ingress accident in a VHTR is anticipated to cause severe changes of graphite density and mechanical strength by oxidation process resulting in many side effects. However, the quantitative estimation has not been performed yet. In this study, the focus has been on the prediction of graphite density change and mechanical strength using a thermal hydraulic system analysis code. For analysis of the graphite density change, a simple graphite burn-off model was developed based on the similarity concept between parallel electrical circuit and graphite oxidation considering the overall changes of the graphite geometry and density. The developed model was implemented in the VHTR system analysis code, GAMMA, along with other comprehensive graphite oxidation models. As a reference reactor, GT-MHR 600 MWt reactor was selected. From the calculation, it was observed that the main oxidation process was derived 5.5 days after the accident following natural convection. The core maximum temperature reached up to 1400 C. However it never exceeded the maximum temperature criteria, 1600 C. According to the calculation results, the most oxidation occurs in the bottom reflector, so the exothermic heat generated by oxidation did not affect the core heat up. However, the oxidation process highly decreased the density of the bottom reflector making it vulnerable to mechanical stress. In fact, since the bottom reflector sustains the reactor core, the stress is highly concentrated on this part. The calculations were made for up to 11 days after the accident and 4.5% of density decrease was estimated resulting in 25% mechanical strength reduction